Ezra

God fulfills a prophecy and moved on Cyrus. Cyrus of Persia recognizes that God has given him his place of authority. Cyrus commissions the temple to be rebuilt in Jerusalem and tells people to give donations to its rebuilding. He also lets anyone who wants to go help in the rebuilding go. He brings out of the treasury the temple items.

Principles: God keeps His promises, fulfilling prophecy. People outside of Judaism were used by God.

The chaper gives a listing of the leaders and representatives of families that came back to rebuild the temple. They worked to confirm those that were actually descendents of the original tribes (Levitra etc) so they could perform the duties according to the law. When they couldn’t confirm, they told the people to wait before they served so they wouldn’t violate the law while they used the urim and thummim to ask God.

Principles: keeping the records of the families helped to confirm who was allowed to serve and who would be able to keep the law. Urim and Thummim was not a “odds” or “chance” method. It was trusting God was in control.

Those that returned from the exile rebuilt the altar and reset the foundations of the temple. Then they started offering the required sacrifices. Those that had seen the original altar wept when they saw the new one. The rest of the people shouted with joy. It’s unclear what caused them to weep (overwhelming joy, sadness for what they’d gone through, sadness for what they’d lost, etc.).

Principles: Experience creates deeper meaning.

The Jews who had returned from exile were working to rebuild the temple when those in the area tried to stop them by involving themselves in the work. They told them they worshiped God too and wanted to help them finish it. The Jewish leaders told them “no,” they couldn’t have a part of the work. They tried multiple methods to get them to stop, including sending a letter of half truths to the King of Persia telling him that the Jews were going to rebel as soon as they were done building the wall. The king sent a letter back telling them to stop building.

Principles: Just because someone is offering to “help” doesn’t mean they are offering to help. You need to protect the work God has called you to do.

Contemporaries of Ezra, Haggar and Zachariah prophesied about God’s plan for the Jews and, as a result, the Jews started building the temple again. When a local governor heard, he came and tried to stop them again. However, the Jews reminded the King (through the letter sent by the governor) that they had been given official permission by Cyrus and asked that the historical records be consulted.

Principles: God’s word is an encouragement to us. We can trust God when we are doing what He asks us to do something that His plan will prevail.

King Darius has a search done of the records and finds that Cyrus had indeed decreed that the temple was to be rebuilt. He ordered that the governor who was against the Jews rebuilding the temple was to provide help and a portion of taxes to help them complete the work. Then the Jews finished the temple in time for passover.

Principles: God uses government at times to assist in His plans. What some meant for harm, God used for good.

In his this the last chapter of Ezra, the people of Israel decide what to do regarding the intermarriage of the those returned from the exile and the the people of the land. They decided to repent and divorce those they had married.

Principles: setting things right after sinning can be hard work.